Purdie Family

My mother's side ... all 4 of my mother's grandparents were born in NZ, in North Canterbury. All 8 of her great-grandparents immigrated from England between the dates of 1858 and 1883. They were active Methodists, tradespeople, who built houses, churches and businesses in Woodend, Rangiora and Christchurch.

The Ellis side

This gorgeous photo is nearly 200 years old, our oldest photo (I think). This is my Great-great-great Grandmother, born Mary Ann Buckland, became Mary Ann Cutler when married, born in 1822 in Southampton, came to NZ in 1863 with her 6 kids, died 1889.

The Ayers side

Let me tell you the story of your tupuna (ancestors), this strong branch of our family tree. It’s marvellous to be here, telling this story, here in this place which is ground and foundation, where we come from as a people.200 years ago my mother’s mother’s mother’s grandfather was born, here in Turvey.

The church in Turvey where Samuel Ayers was baptised, and sang in the choir

Ben on the Turvey bridge.

Houses in Turvey, known for its golden stone ... possibly the homes the Ayers and Gibbs families lived in, with just one bedroom per family.

The manor house, where the Higgins family lived, who paid for the Ayers family to come to NZ in 1858.

Turvey and the KiwisA summary of the 40 people who left Turvey in the mid 1850s to come to NZ, all to Canterbury, landing at Lyttleton, including our ancestors the Ayers, with siblings the Gibbs. My apologies - I have not recorded who wrote this or where it came from.

Bells of Turvey - web link A new play about the small village of Turvey in rural Bedfordshire, set in the 1850s. Written by Poppy Hollman, from diaries based on the memoirs of Joseph Bell who was born in 1846. It features a mix of both new songs and music, and some arranged from traditional sources, by Tim Brewster. A community production by Turvey Amateur Theatrical Society (TATS) on 15th-18th November 2017.

Ship records: The Zealandia left London and arrived in Lyttleton, 1858(William Gibbs was Elizabeth's brother)

More on The Zealandia ship. She was brand new when she left London that mid summer's morning in 1858! This 'nzbound' web page gives information about the captain, other voyages, and even a testimonial from passengers.

Dad made his soil from shingle and gorse roots and rubbishhe worked with his dirtwith skill and method and ingenuity,ordered rows of bountyas generous as his compost.

Mum the florist tended the front - camelia, agonis, dahlia, daphne,backdoor fuschia arch to the back door,abutilon held fat for the waxeyes.

Grandpa had veges and fruit treesdug soil in rows raggy to the hedge edges,garage groaning with tools from the tip.Nana - like her gooseberries - sharp and sweet and good.Te Poi, cabbage-tree drive, neat feverfew borders taming the colour clamour,the frontdoor maple,the backporch fernery and its riot of begonias.

Samuel and Sarah, the greats,their huge lawn smaller,still there is the pear tree, cherries especially for Christmas shooting,tipped path to the toilet,wood chopped and sparrows in the barn,vegetables and fruit, in abundance, in season.

All this in my handsas I plant and harvest.

www.conversations.net.nzWritten by Silvia Purdie Resources for life and faith